Five Fall Trips to Consider

By LANCE WIEDOWER

Not only is the weather conducive, the prices associated with shoulder season are, too. And as a traveling parent, I’m thankful for a weeklong fall break, giving us the chance to travel as a family during October.

Here are five fall trips on my list, and which one ultimately won out.

Colorado: I have great expectations for Colorado in the fall. I envision hiking in the mountains before the snow sets in, enjoying the crisp fall temperatures and finding our way to a couple of national parks.

Fall in Colorado is tempting. But our son hasn’t experienced a real snow. I think waiting until winter to fly into Denver and spend a couple of days in the mountains might make more sense. So Colorado is out this fall.

Gulf Coast: It’s cliche for Southerners. We love to drive to the Florida or Alabama Gulf Coasts and spend a week on the beach.

Cliche or not, I love the Gulf Coast. The condo and hotel rates in October are more affordable than in the summer. And gas prices are low right now.

October is still technically hurricane season, and while the storms don’t often drift into the Gulf of Mexico this late in the season, it was enough to make me think about it. Plus, we’re already booked for a week in Panama City Beach next summer. I need something new. So the Gulf Coast is out this fall.

Miami: Visiting the Everglades would fill my desire for an outdoors adventure. Spending a couple of days lounging at the beach would give us a taste of relaxation.

And the food and culture of Miami gives us that city adventure we like. But Miami just doesn’t scream fall travel. So Miami is out this fall.

North Carolina: Imagine driving east through Tennessee into North Carolina en route to the Outer Banks. We’d spend a couple of days exploring the beautiful shoreline before driving back west for Asheville and its funky scene, great beer and fun adventures in the mountains.

But we’re not in the mood for that much driving. So North Carolina is out this fall.

Pacific Northwest: We’ve settled on visiting Seattle and Vancouver. We first visited Seattle 12 years ago and fell in love with the region.

Seattle gives us a mix of a fun city with plenty of culture, history, and great food and drink along with the nearby outdoors I crave during the fall. We’ll enjoy a day trip of hiking in the mountains east of Seattle, and take a ferry out to the San Juan Islands for a night. We’ll also make our way to Vancouver, my son’s first time north of the border.

I hear the culture and food of that city are unforgettable.

Fall is a great time to travel, whether it’s to the beach, camping in a nearby state park or to the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest.